Completing any kind of professional level dive training means you’ll be living on Koh Tao for a while. The first step to any longer-term stay on Koh Tao is getting a visa.  You can either get a standard 30-day entry when you arrive at immigration (subject to your nationality) and then apply to extend this for a further 30 days once you are on Koh Tao, or you can apply for a tourist visa at a Thailand embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel. 

We recommend consulting your physician to get the relevant vaccinations for travel to/within Thailand well ahead of time. The specifics may vary depending on your nationality, but normally the basics include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and ensuring your Tetanus booster is up to date. 

The only way to get to Koh Tao is by boat from the nearby island of Koh Samui, or from the mainland cities of Chumphon or Suratthani.  Each of these can be reached by plane, while the mainland cities can also be reached by bus or train.

Accommodation options for living on Koh Tao are wide-ranging.  You could choose to stay in a dorm room, a hotel, resort, a private apartment, or a traditional Thai bungalow. There is a wide array of prices and styles, and availability is constantly changing due to the transient nature of the island. So if you need any help with planning for your arrival, feel free to ask us.

Good quality food is certainly in abundance on Koh Tao, with options ranging from cheap street food to expensive upmarket restaurants, and everything in between. Thai food, seafood, international specialities, western food such as pizza, burgers, pasta, vegetarian/vegan dishes…the choice is yours.

It’s unlikely you’ll get bored of diving while you are living on Koh Tao, but when you take some time away from your training there are plenty of other ways to keep yourself entertained around the island.  You could try some of the other activities Goodtime offer such as rock climbing, abseiling, and cliff jumping.  You could chill out with a yoga session, or get your adrenaline pumping with a flying trapeze class. You could explore the quieter beaches and bays of the island by taxi (land or water) or bike, or follow some of the excellent hiking trails.  You could take Thai cooking classes and learn to make some of your favourite local dishes yourself.  Or you could relax at one of the many beach bars and enjoy the spectacular sunsets we are blessed with before getting involved in the vibrant nightlife scene of Sairee Beach. There is something to suit every taste – every afternoon can be a Sunday afternoon, and likewise, every evening can be a Friday night!